Mechanism for discharging boats.



W. W-ROBINSQN. MECHANISM FOR DISOHABGING BOATS. APPLICATION FILED 111m:19, 1906.

987,017; v Patented'Mar. 14; 1911.

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W. w.; ROBINSON. MECHANISM FOR DISGHARGING BOATS.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 19, 1908.

7- Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

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, W. W. ROBINSON.

MECHANISM FOR DISOHARGING BOATS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 19. 190B.

Patented Mar.14,191 1.

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I5 PETERS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. ROBINSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM FOR DISCHARGING BOATS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. ROBIN- SON, of Philadelphia, in thecounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Discharging Boats, whereofthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawm s.

Illly invention relates to mechanism where by the contents of a canalboat or similar vessel may be discharged from an aperture near thebot-tom of one end of the boat, and includes not only the provision ofthe boat with a suitable aperture for this method of discharge, but alsomechanism, whereby the boat which is to be thus discharged may be raisedout of the water, and suspended with its keel at a sufficientinclination to allow the contents of the boat to be discharged throughthis aperture at the lower end of the boat.

It has heretofore been proposed to elevate barges and discharge themover one side or other by means of a sidewise inclination. This isobjectionable because of the strains put upon the side timbers of thevessel. The ordinary shape and construction of a marine vessel does notadmit of the weight of the cargo resting directly upon its side. Thisobjection does not hold true in case the boat is inclined endwise, anddischarged through one end, but a central discharge opening cannot wellbe provided in either the bow end of a boat or the rudder end of a boat.

According to my invention, I employ canal boats coupled in pairs, andthe coupling ends having neither bow nor rudder, are provided centrallyand below the water level, with a discharge aperture fitted with asuitable water-tight closure. By elevating a boat of this character, andimparting to it an endwise inclination with the coupling end downward,it is possible, without objectionable strains upon the vessel, toreadily discharge the cargo of the boat from the aperture in the lowerend.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is a plan view of an apparatusembodying my invention. Fig. II, is a side elevation on an enlargedscale of a boat derrick constructed according to my invention. Fig. III,is a vertical sectional view of the end of a boat provided with adischarge aperture according to my invention. Fig. IV, is an end view ofthe boat.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1908.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911. Serial No. 439,288.

According to my invention, I provide a discharge aperture at thecoupling ends of both the parts of a paired canal boat. The aperture isa true aperture, situated centrally, and as near the bottom of the boatas practicable, as illustrated inFigs. III, and IV. Such an arrangementis to be distinguished from the device shown in United States LettersPatent No. 39,683, granted August 25th, 1863, to Thomas Sharp, where inthe entire end of the boat is made movable. Sharps arrangement rendersthe making of the watertight joint very ditlicult. In my invention, theaperture being below the water line, must not be unduly large, (for thelarger it is, the longer the watertight joint which must be protected),and is provided with a watertight cover. A preferred construction forsuch a cover is illustrated in detail in Fig. III, where 1, is ashouldered frame for the aperture, while 2, is a large plate providedwith hinges 3, along its upper edge, and forming a cover by which theaperture may be closed. This cover is furnished with a peripheral flange4, along its inner edge, which engages a corresponding flange 5, formedupon the frame. The flange 4, may be provided with a suitable packingring 6. lVhen in place the plate or cover is secured by means of aseries of swiveled bolts 8.

For convenience of discharge, I provide a chute l0, swinging on ahorizontal pivot 11, a short distance within the aperture and furnishedwith side walls 12, so that as soon as the aperture is open, the chutefalls and assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. III.

Referring now to Fig. I, it will be understood that each of the canalboats there shown, is provided with a discharge aperture, such as hasbeen described, at the lower edge of the coupling end of the boat, allof the forward boats being designated by 15, and the after boats by 16,and being suitably docked alongside of each other with the coupling endinnermost. Alongside of their inner or'discharge ends a running derrick20, is provided consisting of a suitable framework mounted on wheels 21,running 011 tracks 22, 22, and mounted tion of the dock having asuiiicient depth of water to float a loaded canal boat beneath thederrick. The derrick carries a cradle 25, in the form of an open frame,provided with a bottom of suitable size, to receive and astride aporsupport the keel of acanal boat and with sides for additionallysupportingfit, but

open at the ends except for an overhanging shoulder 26, formed onthecorners at the end from which the boat which it contains is to bedischarged, which shoulder vserves to prevent the boat from slidingdown. and

out of the cradle when the latter is inclined.

For the purpose of; hoisting and lowering the cradle, the derrickisprovid'ed at each end with a double Windlass consisting of the cradleto be tilted longitudinally as it is lifted, by the more rapid operationof one 7 pair of drums than the other, as illustrated in the drawings.The derrick 20, is further provided with a chute 88, at that end throughwhich the boat is to be discharged, which chute as shown, overhangs afurther extension of the dock where, if desired, may be moored a vesselinto which the contents of the canal boats are to be dumped.

It will of course be understood that my mechanism is equally applicableto the dis charge of the contents of the boats into a railroad car, orany other suitable receptacle.

v with it.

In operation the canal boats which are to bedischarged are docked withtheir coupling end, that is to say, the end which is providedwith a.discharge aperture, turned in the direction toward which the dischargeof the cargo is to occur. The running derrick may then be moved to itsposition at the end of the boat and the cradle lowered to a suitabledepth in-the water beneath, for which purpose the cradle is preferablymade of steel or otherwise suitably weighted. The

boat which is to be discharged is floated to its position within thecradle, as indicated in dotted lines at the lower part of FigII, Thecradle is then raised carrying the boat 7 The drums are so operated asto give tothe cradle with its contained'boat an inclination sufficientto allow the discharge by gravity of the entire cargoof the boat throughthe aperture at its lower end.

It will be understood that, for this purpose all of the boats to housedin connection w th my mechanism are provided with holds wlthoutpartitions or projections which would interfere with the directdischarge of the entire load'of the boat through the aperture atthelower end. As soon as the boat has been thus elevated and tilted inthe cradle,the aperture at its lower end is opened, whereupon itscontents are discharged by gravity through the aperture and over thechutes 10, and 38, and thus lead to whatever receptacle is provided. Itwill also be understood that it is not necessary to employ a runningderrick, but that any other means of elevating a cradle in which theboat may be carried may be employed. Such .means may be stationary, inwhich case each boat which is to be dumped is in turn brought intoproper position to be received Within the cradle and lifted to theposition of discharge.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A boat provided with adischarge aperture located in the end thereof and extending below thewater line, means for closing said aperture, and a swinging chutemounted within the boat and adapted to extend out through said aperturewhen the same is opened, said aperture leading to the interior of theboat, whereby the contents thereof may be discharged through saidaperture.

2. A pair of canal boats, each provided with a flat end adapted to becoupled together, and each having an opening in its top through whichthe boats may be loaded, each of said boats having a discharge aperturelocated in the flat end thereof and extending below the waterline, meansfor closing said aperture, and a swinging chute mounted within the boatand adapted to extend out through said aperture when the same is opened,said aperture leading to the interior of the boat, whereby the contentsthereof may be discharged through said a aerture. v y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this seventeenth day of June, 1908.

WILLIAM w. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of .Patents, i Washington, D. 0.

